1987 Archives - Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive

6th February 202631st January 2026

Solid Gold Sunday on Q102

Solid Gold Sunday was a weekly show presented by popular DJ Jason Maine on Dublin station Q102 in the 1980s. This recording of the programme was made between Christmas and New Year 1987 and includes the usual mix of oldies along with Jason’s characteristic relaxed style. There’s also a promo for a show featuring the Top 40 of 1987, that will air during the festive season.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 102 FM between 1203-1249 on Sunday 27^th December 1987.

2nd February 202631st January 2026

Final Bee Bop Gold of 1987

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Bee Bop Gold was a hugely popular oldies show on Dublin pirate Sunshine 101 hosted by Nails Mahoney in the final part of the station’s 8-year period on air. This edition is the final such show of 1987 and features the customary mixture of oldies and short links. Sunshine was Dublin’s most popular pirate station by this time following a rebranding the previous year, but the new super-slick presentation style was formatted to within an inch of its life. This recording includes a promo for a £20,000 giveaway to a listener who could repeat the phrase ‘I listen to the red-hot sound of Sunshine 101’.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 100.5 FM between 0943-1029 on Sunday 27^th December 1987 from 0943-1029.

6th October 202529th September 2025

Sunday morning on Radio Skywave International

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Radio Skywave International was one of many Irish pirates operating on shortwave on Sunday morning in the 1980s. It began broadcasting on 29^th July 1985 from Baldoyle in northeast Dublin and continued on a weekly basis until 12^th June 1988.

This recording of Radio Skywave features station operator Michael Hegarty with an hour of Irish music. Reception reports are welcome from Ireland, the UK, Europe and beyond. At the time Radio Skywave was broadcasting on 6850 kHz in the 44-metre band and on low power on 6260 kHz in the 48-metre band. This pre-recorded show was broadcast on 7^th June 1987 between 1000-1100. Radio Skywave International donated a large collection of recordings to Pirate.ie and this is among them.

15th August 202512th August 2025

Bee Bop Gold oldies show on Sunshine 101

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Bee Bop Gold was a hugely popular oldies show on Dublin pirate Sunshine Radio in its last few years on air. Sponsored by video rental company Xtravision, it was presented by Nails Mahoney, who would go on to a successful media career in Ireland and abroad. Relaunched as ‘Sunshine Hot Hits 101’ at this time, the Portmarnock station was the radio leader in Dublin and market research showed that Bee Bop Gold was the capital’s most listened to programme on Sundays.

This recording of Bee Bop Gold highlights how tightly-formatted the programme was, with very short links and continuous oldies. There are the usual high-level agency adverts for larger businesses and brands, some voiced by Sunshine boss, Robbie Robinson (RIP). The tape was made on Sunday 16^th August 1987 from 101.5 FM between 1317-1447 and is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection.

16th May 202515th May 2025

Lunchtime on Cara 95 FM

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Cara 95 FM was a temporary name for Dublin’s love song station launched as Heartbeat in November 1986. The change was short-lived however, and the station reverted to the original Heartbeat name after a few months.

This recording of the afternoon programme was made in the autumn of 1987 and features John Keogh with the usual mixture of love songs, requests and the Mystery Movie competition to win 95 movie tickets. John reads news headlines also and there are adverts for businesses around Dublin.

The tape is from the Anoraks Ireland Collection and was made from 95.5 FM on Thursday 1^st October 1987 from 1300-1433.